Bard: The Odyssey of the Irish

Historical fantasist Morgan Llywelyn's tale of the coming of the Irish to Ireland, and of the men and women who made that emerald isle their own

The story follows Amergin, druid and chief bard of the Galicians, a group of Celts living in Iberia during the fourth century BC. After years of decline, the Galicians hope that the unexpected arrival of Phoenician traders, led by Age-Nor, will help restore their prosperity. Unfortunately, neither side has anything worth trading. At a reception in the Heroes’ Hall, Age-Nor is attacked by Amergin's brothers, and the druid uses his bardic talent to entrance his murderous sibling, thus saving Age-Nor.

Age-Nor rewards Amergin, despite the bard's vehement protests, by giving him a servant, a shipwright named Sakkar, and regaling him with a tale of a fabled land to the north, Ierne. After a series of mishaps and bad decisions, the tribe builds a series of ships with the help of Sakkar, and sets sail.

But when they arrive on Ierne, they are confronted by a mysterious people who will one day fuel legend and myth: the Tuatha Dé Danann, People of the Goddess Danu.